November 14, 2019 Board of Health Meeting Summary
Written by Communications, November 19, 2019
Planet Youth
Planet Youth refers to a community-based model developed in Iceland in the late ‘90s that during two decades of implementation successfully reduced youth substance use in that country. The Icelandic Model (IM) effectively changed cultural norms around youth substance use by focussing on risk factors while building resilience at the community level. The risk factors included family supports, peer influences, school climate, and how youth use their leisure time. The IM recognizes that communities have unique assets available that contribute to the overall resilience of youth. Researchers from the Icelandic Center for Social Research and Analysis (ICSRA) used schools as community hubs to collect data from students and implement targeted interventions to address identified risk factors and increase resilience for youth at the local level.
Current rates for substance use among youth in Peterborough are higher than the Ontario average. Peterborough ranks second highest in the province with 52.7% of youth reporting drinking underage. Peterborough also ranks second highest for emergency department visits related to cannabis use among youth 13-18 years. Across Ontario, Peterborough has lower than average youth abstinence rates for tobacco smoking with 78.7% of youth abstaining compared to the provincial average of 89.7%.
Traditional methods of substance use prevention for youth have largely focused on drug education, fear-based messaging, and programming to build refusal skills to peer pressure. All have proven ineffective in preventing and delaying youth use. Research is now showing that for a program to be successful at addressing youth substance use we must first evaluate the risk factors in our social environment that contribute to use. The ICSRA has partnered with many communities across the world using their Planet Youth model to successfully address youth substance use. This model is a proven evidence-based program and considered best practice for reducing the rate of substance use and associated harms of substance use among youth. Peterborough Public Health (PPH), with current partnerships and experience, is well-positioned to support the community in action to reduce substance use among youth using a community focused program. The Board of Health was asked to consider a funding request to hire the ICSRA and initiate a multi-year Planet Youth project. The Board of Health referred the request to the Stewardship Committee to review.
Cost-shared 2020 Budget
The Board of Health approved a cost-shared budget for 2020 for public health programs and services in the amount of $10,481,171. PPH submitted a balanced budget based on anticipated revenue and projected expenses. The overall result is a 0% increase over 2018. This budget is based on the assumption of 70% provincial and 30% local funding allocation for all programs, including those that were previously 100% funded by the province. The other key assumption for 2020 is that the province will provide Mitigation Funding up to a maximum amount necessary to cap the local funding increase at 10% over contributions for 2019. It should be acknowledged that although the proposed budget is a balanced budget, there is little room for unanticipated expenses. Any additional budget pressures or funding shortfall will require use of reserves to balance the budget.
ATV Use on Local Roads
Following the recent passage of Bill 107 in June 2019 that will allow off-road vehicles (ORVs) on municipal roads, PPH has prepared an evidence summary showing the local rates of ORV-related injuries and hospitalizations. This evidence was shared with all local municipalities to assist them as they consider bylaws regarding the use of ORVs on local roads. Locally, statistics show that from 2003 to 2016 there were 1,626 ED visits among Peterborough (City and County) residents resulting from an ORV injury, which is an average of 116 visits per year. During this same time period, there were 149 hospitalizations among Peterborough residents as a result of ORV injuries, which is an average of 11 per year. When assessing death statistics from 2000 to 2015 there were 21 deaths as a result of an ORV among Peterborough residents. The report noted it is concerning that there seems to be an increasing trend of ORV fatalities. From 2011 to 2015 there were nine deaths, which is elevated from the previous five-year periods: six deaths during 2006 to 2011, and five deaths during 2001 to 2005. The board of health directed its staff to ensure all local municipalities and First Nations are provided with the evidence and local data in order to inform their decision making on this issue.
Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Adaptation
As of January 1, 2018, the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS) mandated local Public Health agencies to create adaptation plans to prepare their communities for climate change, focusing on reducing the harms associated with local changes to the climate, especially for vulnerable populations. In addition, a 2018 survey conducted by PPH revealed that 90% of Peterborough County and City residents reported being concerned about climate change. Five years ago, some initial work was completed by PPH that specifically looked at the effects of climate change and local flooding. To expand on this work, PPH is currently conducting a health vulnerability assessment. This assessment will enable PPH and community stakeholders better understand and plan for the demands that climate change will place on local public health and health care systems. In the fall of 2018, staff began working on a comprehensive Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Adaptation Plan specifically for PPH communities guided by the Ontario Climate Change and Health Toolkit. This community plan will engage local external stakeholders in the creation of the health vulnerability assessment, and in the development, implementation, and evaluation of health-specific adaptation strategies.
Next meeting:
The Board of Health meets next on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. in the Dr. J. K. Edwards Board Room, third floor, 185 King St., Peterborough, Ontario.
A list of Board of Health meeting dates and locations can be found here.